young man, in spite of his grey hair, while worthy Master Besserer
followed his ensample.

At the first favorable chance I drew Herdegen apart. Ann had already told
him that I had been witness to their first meeting again; this indeed
pleased him ill, and when I asked him as to how he purposed to demean
himself henceforth towards his betrothed, he answered that matters had
not gone so far with them; and that until he had taken his Doctor's hood
we must keep the secret I had by chance discovered closely hidden from
all the good people of Nuremberg; that much water would flow into the sea
or ere he could bid me wag my tongue, if our grand-uncle should continue
to bear the weight of his years so bravely. For the present he was one of
the happiest of men on earth, and if I loved him I must help him to enjoy
his heart's desire, and often see the lovely violet which had bloomed so
sweetly for him here in the deep heart of the forest.

His bright young spirit smiled upon my soul once more as it had done long
ago. Only his unloving mention of our grand-uncle, who had been as a
second father to him, struck to my heart, and this I said to him; adding
likewise, that it must be a point of honor with him to give and take
rings with Ann, even though it should be in secret.

This he was ready and glad to do; I gave him the gold ring, with a hearty
good will, which Cousin Maud had given me for my confirmation, and he put
it on his sweetheart's finger that very day, albeit her silver ring was
too small for his little finger. So he bid her wear it, and solemnly
promised to keep his troth, even without a ring, till the next
home-coming; and Ann put her trust in her lover as surely as in rock and
iron.

Many were the guests who came to the forest that fair autumn tide; there
was no end of hunting and sport of all kinds, and Ann was ever ready and
well content to share her lover's fearless delight in the chase; when she
came home from the forest the joy of her heart shone more clearly than
ever in her eyes; and seeing her then and thus, no man could doubt that
she was at the crown and top of human happiness. Albeit, up on that
height meseemed a keen wind was blowing, which she did battle with so
hardly that through many a still night I could hear her sighs. Withal she
showed a strange selfishness such as I had never before marked in her,
which, however, only concerned her lover, with constant unrest when apart
from others whom she loved